Thursday, December 3, 2009

Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006


Line 39 Cabernet was recommended to me by a friend of mine who shares my somewhat obsessive passion for wine.  Nicolas wrote me an email after running into me at a wine store.  Yes, we run into each other at wine stores - in Los Angeles.  "One of the wines I picked up was really very nice.  You should pick up a bottle!"  So the wife and I piled into the car the next day and went back over to the West Side.  "Oh, yeah, we had a few cases of that, but we ran out.  We should get more in a few days."  Well, it must be good if they ran out of it.  In a few days I got a text from Nicolas.  "Line 39 is in!"  Back to the West Side we went, and this time I was not denied.  Fortunately, Nicolas was right.  It is a good wine. 


Location, location, location.  Line 39 refers to the latitude on which the winery is located.  Is that a good latitude for wine?  Well, Washington D.C. and Pyongyang North Korea are listed just either side of latitude 39, so I'd say based on that information, the jury is still out.  However, Line 39 happens to run right through Lake County, California.  That's just north of a place called Napa Valley, so maybe it's not such a bad location after all.


The wine is very smooth if you give it a half hour or so to open itself.  I pick up aromas like raspberries and cigar box.  On the palate, I get blackberry, strawberry and a bit of a cranberry edge.  There is some smoke and earth coming forth, too.  It's a deep ruby color, almost opaque.  I always imagine that means a bit more complexity is lurking in there.  I don't know if that's true, but it's a nice thought.

Winemaker:  Cecchetti Wine Company
Varietal:  Cabernet Sauvignon
Appelation:  California > Lake County
Vintage:  2006
Alcohol Level:  14.5%
Price:  $10
Acquisition disclaimer:  I bought this wine myself.

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